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The Eighth Principle 

8. Dr. Lamb's Principle of Constant Total Body Pain

Referred pain leads us to an unusual idea that I describe as "constant total body pain". Although the initial idea is a little bizarre, upon pondering some of the mechanisms of pain and injury, one realizes this has to be so. It has to be.

We first must recognize that throughout our whole body we have cells constantly becoming injured and dying. Most, but not all, of these cells will be replaced by newer cells. Some cells are not replaced, such as some brain cells, kidney cells and lung cells. 

In general, we are not aware of dying cells unless large numbers of cells die in one area, such as an injury causing a large bruise or muscle injury. Then we will feel some pain. 

Remember that people are not aware of day to day muscle injuries and shortening that cause minor myofascial pain problems.  We do however, have injuries occurring in our bodies all the time but we are not made aware by feeling pain. This is because it would not be beneficial or adaptive for the human to feel every little ache or pain of a dying cell. 

Remember Charles Darwin! We have therefore developed, by evolution, a pain tolerance. A pain tolerance allows us to endure minor pain and injury and still continue to work and live. 

Now if the injury is substantial, our body warns us with pain. This is because the pain level is now above our pain tolerance and the pain information is now relayed to our brain. This actually makes good sense because if we were to sense every cell injury and death, we would never get out of bed. So a balance is made between sensing pain and pain tolerance. 

Nevertheless, our body is in a form of constant total body pain or injury, though we are not aware, or are we? There are subtle changes that clue us in to early nerve pain. 

I have identified many subtle warnings of nerve pain caused probably from muscle dysfunction. Common symptoms of early nerve pain or disease or neuropathy could be itchy skin at rest, usually at night, restless arms or legs, again at night or inability to sleep due to stimulus from quiet pain. 

Quiet pain is another term I have coined for pain that is tolerated as a pain but causes another problem that would not usually be thought of as a pain problem. The itchy skin, restlessness and insomnia are really versions of quiet pain. 

Other quiet pains could be simply symptoms like ringing of the ears or dizziness. Joint stiffness, cracking of joints and limb numbness and tingling are more clear warnings of a pinched nerve and shortened muscles. 

Commonly recognized symptoms of myofascial pain would be aching of muscles and joints at rest, as well as headache, arm or leg pain.

The idea of total body pain is actually quite logical. 

I want you to remember that we are unaware of most muscle dysfunction or myofascial pain problems until obvious pain symptoms develop.  

Therapy will be easier and more effective if both physicians and their patients learned to recognize some of the early warnings of muscle dysfunction and its complications. Realizing that we are all susceptible is the first step.